A55752:371
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...
London: printed by J.T., 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But you will say, what benefit is this: what privilege 1is it to have Christ rule us? it seemeth rather to be contrary▪ it seemeth rather that this is to be restrained, and to be over-ruled; is it not better to have our liberty?
But you will say, what benefit is this: what priviledge 1is it to have Christ rule us? it seemeth rather to be contrary▪ it seemeth rather that this is to be restrained, and to be over-ruled; is it not better to have our liberty?
- 1Objection.
I answer, that it is not: but it is a great privilege to 1have Christ govern in us: for he is not as those governors that govern for themselves; but he hath the property of a good governor, that spendeth his sweetness for the good of those, over whom he is a governor. And this you will see if you consider what a government it is. For it freeth you from the government of other Lords: from the government that your lusts have over you, Again he governeth not as a Tyrant, by force, but as the soul governeth the members without difficulty. Now as it is said of the Members, that while they serve and obey the soul, That ⟨p. 128⟩very labour is a rest, and that obedience is a liberty: even so the soul when it obeyeth Christ, that is indeed a liberty, and that service is rest, the reason is, because Christ guideth them sweetly in whom he dwelleth: all the members are guided by the soul with a willing resignation, so that from an inward propenseness, not from constraint, they do what they will: it is therefore an easy government. Again when any thing is made obedient to what is the proper rule of it, it is the better for it: for therein the perfection of every creature lieth, when the Creature hath a Law given it, according to which if it work, it is in the best condition. Now God himself & the law is the rule to which every man should conform, therefore the creature is best, when it is in obedience to him; even as is the body of man, when it is best governed, and kept closest to the rule, it is best in health: